Reflector



Aug. 21, 1934. T, A LAN 1,970,671

REFLECTOR Filed May 25, 1952 Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates especially to a reflector for use with electric lamp bulbs and has for an object to produce an unique effect when in use with the lamp bulb of a sign in lighting fixtures,

5 and other places where lamp bulbs may be used for illumination in combination with the esthetic effect which the appearance of the bulb will present when illuminated, aside from the light projected from the glowing filament of the bulb.

This and other objects are attained in the reflector described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a reflector embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of a lamp bulb especially equipped to take care of the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1, this bulb also being of a shape such that it may be employed of itself,

to perform somewhat the function of the reflector shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of another form of reflector embodying my invention, a lamp bulb which may cooperate, being shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view 01 a lamp bulb embodying a modified form of my invention, the reflector element being incorporated within the glass envelope of the bulb as will be hereinafter described.

The form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, consists merely in a ring which may have any preferred transverse cross section adapting it to placement and retention on the lamp bulb, and,

the ring is preferably formed as shown. in Fig. 1, so that it may act as a spring which, in placing it upon the bulb and at a position in registration with its greatest diameter, will grip the bulb and hold itself in position thereon. This ring preferably is highly polished or plated to produce a highly finished surface which will reflect light therefrom and produce the results desired by causing a band of light to appear about the lamp bulb, with the centrally located and brilliantly illuminated filament, appearing as a nucleus for this halo or band of light surrounding the bulb.

Various types of plating or other finish may be employed to produce different reflections, both as to color and other characteristics.

Fig. 2 shows a lamp bulb especially formed for the retention of a reflecting ring such as I have shown in Fig. 1, such a bulb having a depressed annular portion 11 at the region of its greatest diameter, into which the ring shown in Fig. 1, 55 may spring and thus be retained against displacement. On the other hand, if it is not desired to use the ring shown in Fig. 1, it will be found that the depression 11 will operate within itself to produce an unique band of light reflecting the (30 light propagated from the illuminated filament of the bulb. This effect may be still farther enhanced by proper treatment of the surface of the depression either in whole or in part, to produce colors other than that which is projected through the bulb envelope, or. the surface of this depression may be silvered and thereby operate to produce a still different result.

Fig. 3 discloses a form of my invention especial- 1y adapted to use on bulbs which occupy an upright position relatively to the person looking at it. Therefore, the reflector shown in this view, consists of a substantially U-shaped structure which fits the outline of the lamp bulb, preferably at its region of greatest girth, and operates to present a looped or rainbow reflection of light in much the same manner as has been described in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Of course, it is obvious that this U- shaped metal element may be held on the lamp bulb envelope by means of a grove such as shown in Fig. 2, but extending around the bulb in the direction of the element as shown in Fig. 3, as well as in any other manner which may appear to be suitable, although I have merely shown the reflector element as gripping the bulb through the spring-like action which it exerts thereon.

Fig. 4 is a view showing an elevation of a lamp bulb equipped with an annular rib which extends outwardly from the greatest diameter of the bulb to produce a bead 12 which surrounds the bulb and acts, through its refractive action, to cause the light to appear as a band of illumination surrounding the bulb envelope. Obviously, the surface or at least a portion thereof may be treated to produce a reflecting surface, whether the treatment be that of a color or of merely silvering it. If the rear portion of the bead is silvered, that is that portion toward the base of the bulb, it will operate as a reflector which will reflect the light from the bulb filament through the glass of the remaining portion of the bead, thereby disclosing the annular halo or band of light in much the same manner as has been described in connection with the other forms of my invention disclosed herein. It is obvious that additional embodiments of the invention may consist in a combination of the constructions I have just described, or in the variation of the shape of the reflecting surfaces, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as now set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In combination with a lamp bulb having a ring-receiving depression in the envelope thereof, a reflecting ring occupying the depression, the walls of the depression and the ring acting to produce a combined refraction and reflection of the light produced by the bulb.

TI-IADDEUS A. NOLAN. 

